How to Evaluate Exponents
Concept
Exponent of a number shows how many times we are multiplying a number by itself. Exponent is also known as the power of a number. It can be a whole number, fraction, negative number, or decimals.
Exponential Form is a way of representing repeated multiplication of the same number by writing the number as a base with the number of repeats written as a small number to its upper right. The small number is called an exponent or power.
Rules
1. Determine how many times the base number will be repeated as a factor by looking at the exponent.
2. Write out the exponential form in expanded form.
3. Multiply.
4. Any base with an exponent of zero is equal to one. x0 = 1
5. When an exponent is 1, the base remains the same. a1 = a
Example
Evaluate.
54
Solution
1. Determine how many times the base number (5) will be repeated as a factor by looking at the exponent (4).
2. Write out the exponential form in expanded form: 5 × 5 × 5 × 5
3. Multiply: 5 × 5 = 25 × 5 = 125 × 5 = 625
Answer: 54 = 625
Practice How to Evaluate Exponents
Practice Problem 1
Evaluate. Write the product.
Practice Problem 2
Evaluate. Write the product.
Practice Problem 3
Evaluate. Write the product.
Base – The number that tells what number is being multiplied.
Exponent – A small number written above and to the right of the base number, tells how many times the base number is being multiplied. Also known as power.
Pre-requisite Skills
Identify Factors
Prime and Composite Numbers
Prime Factorization
Write Exponents